Building a Medical Trade Network: The Physician Support Team of the GMA (Class by Sabayna)

 This is based in the Gorean world, which is based on the books by John Norman. 

Class by Sabayna

Several of the speakers at the recent Fair do not wish their talks to be used by others as group training/lessons. If you wish to do so, please contact the speakers direct.

The Gorean Merchants Association (GMA) has long worked to encourage merchant roleplay among cities and trading companies, serving as both a gateway for new initiatives and a platform for cooperation and publicity. Since its founding in October 2021, the association has grown steadily and now encompasses more than twenty cities and trading enterprises.

To better coordinate this growing work, the GMA Summit held in Tetrapoli in May 2025 established four dedicated project teams:

• A City Visits Team to assess applicant cities

• A Merchant Fairs Team to coordinate fairs and invitations

• A Product Catalog Team to maintain and distribute shared trade records

• And finally, the Physician Support Team, the focus of this article

Origins of the Physician Support Team

The Physician Support Team began as a passion project driven by the recognition that medical roleplay depends heavily on trade. Years of research into medicinal herbs and raw materials revealed a crucial truth: healing plants and ingredients are regionally distributed across Gor and are not universally available in sufficient quantities.

Trade, therefore, is essential.

For example, a physician in the southern regions may require pine-based remedies sourced from the north, while cities near jungles can supply anti-inflammatory plants, swelling reducers, and salivary stimulants harvested locally. Without organized trade, such realism and continuity in medical roleplay becomes difficult to sustain.

This understanding led to the proposal of a Medical Trade Network, integrating physicians directly into the existing merchant trade routes of the GMA. The aim was to support immersive, lore-consistent roleplay while fostering collaboration between castes.

From Proposal to Practice

The concept was formally reviewed and endorsed by GMA leadership in mid-2024. Discussions focused on identifying essential raw materials, involving physicians from member cities, and creating a comprehensive archive to streamline trade.

The resulting framework established clear responsibilities:

• Physicians identify medical needs and required ingredients

• Merchants facilitate transportation using existing trade routes and assets

• Scribes maintain accurate archives documenting regions, supplies, and physician coverage

• The GMA provides logistical support, storage, documentation, and fair pricing under Merchant Law

This structure ensures timely delivery of medicinal goods, even during times of conflict, while preserving neutrality and cooperation across regions.

The collaboration between the Physicians’ Caste and the GMA was unanimously approved at a subsequent summit in October 2024.

Early Successes and Growth

The first practical collaboration took place at the Spring Market in Trigger Reef in April 2025, evolving organically into a small medical trade fair. Activities included tea tastings, the presentation of beauty and wellness products, and the debut of new medicinal bath oils. The success of this event demonstrated the strong roleplay potential of the Medical Trade Network.

Shortly thereafter, the Physician Support Team was formally established in May 2025. Today, the team includes around fifteen members, primarily physicians, alongside merchants who specialize in medical and healing-related goods such as balms, oils, and spices.

Goals of the Physician Support Team

The team’s mission is to deepen realism and interaction between physicians and merchants through structured roleplay. Its key goals include:

• Maintaining a membership of GMA-affiliated physicians and merchants

• Developing a roleplay model for sourcing, transporting, and distributing medicinal supplies

• Identifying or creating full-permission plant and medical assets for regional trade

• Supporting fairs, markets, and civic events that showcase medical commerce

In practice, team members are encouraged to provide two lists:

1. Medical supplies they require

2. Medical supplies they can provide

These lists help establish trade routes, contacts, and opportunities for ongoing collaboration.

Looking Ahead

Building on the success of early markets, the Physician Support Team continues to expand its presence at fairs, including dedicated Physician Fairs and upcoming large-scale events. Participation is open and encouraged, reinforcing the original vision of this project as a shared endeavor between the Physicians’ Caste and the Gorean Merchants Association.

The work is ongoing, but the foundation has been laid: a living medical trade network that strengthens roleplay, supports immersion, and brings castes together through cooperation, knowledge, and commerce.